All life on earth depends on photosynthesis, either directly or, as in the case of animals, indirectly.

Photosynthesis makes both carbon and energy available to living organisms and produces the
oxygen in the atmosphere which is vital for all aerobic forms of life. During photosynthesis plants
take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen as a by-product. Without green plants performing
photosynthesis there would be no way for nature to replace all the oxygen being consumed in
processes such as respiration and combustion. Furthermore the levels of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere would increase. Thus, the balance of atmospheric gases is kept stable by
photosynthesis. Green plants are called producers because they produce all their own food from the
raw materials around them via photosynthesis. Animals and humans on the other hand are
consumers and all the food they eat comes directly or indirectly from plants. Thus photosynthesis is
the ultimate source of almost all of our food.

Sugar is made during photosynthesis from carbon dioxide and water. The energy for the reaction
comes from light and is stored within sugar which is an energy-rich molecule. The overall equation
for this reaction is: 6CO2 + 6H20 ------> C6H1206 + 6O2. The xylem tissues of roots, stems and leaf
vascular bundles bring water to the photosynthesising cells of the leaf. The carbon dioxide diffuses
into the leaf through stomata. It then diffuses air spaces and into mesophyll cells and finally into
chloroplasts.

In eukaryotes, photosynthesis takes place in organelles called chloroplasts. They are found in the
cytoplasm. Chloroplasts are surrounded by two membranes, which form the chloroplast envelope.
They always contain chlorophyll and other photosynthetic pigments located on a system of
membranes, the membranes run through a ground substance, or stroma. The membrane system is
the site of the light dependent reactions in photosynthesis. The membranes are covered with
chlorophyll and other pigments, enzymes and electron carriers. The system consists of many
flattened, fluid-filled sacs called thylakoids which forms stacks called grana at intervals, with lamellae
between the grana. The stroma is the site of the light independent reactions of photosynthesis. The
structure is gel-like, containing soluble enzymes, such as sugars and organic acids. Excess
carbohydrate from photosynthesis is sometimes seen stored as grains of starch Lipid droplets are
often associated with the membranes. They become larger as membranes break down during ageing
presumably accumulating lipids from the membrane.

Photosynthesis uses light energy to cause carbon dioxide and water to react to produce
carbohydrates and oxygen. The light energy is transformed to chemical energy in the carbohydrates.
Most photosynthesis takes place inside chloroplasts in palisade cells in leaves. Inside the chloroplast
are stacks of thylakoids, called grana, as well as stroma, the dense fluid inside of the chloroplast.
These thylakoids contain the chlorophyll that is necessary for the plant to go through
photosynthesis.